Q: You have been successful in Spa before. What do you think this weekend can bring you? A win? A podium?KR: Firstly, I like this track - itâ€™s a real track. Secondly it will be pretty tough to beat Red Bull here. Be sure that I will see that the fans will see a good show, as this track allows overtaking - and I will take advantage of it whenever I can. (laughs)

Zitat24/08/2013KIMI RĂ„IKKĂ–NEN CONFIDENT OF SUNDAY PROGRESS AT SPAAfter being fastest in Q2, rainfall in Q3 wasnâ€™t what the doctor ordered for Kimi, with the Finnish driver lining up in eighth position on the grid for tomorrowâ€™s Belgian Grand Prix

HOW WAS TODAY FOR YOU?had we done one more lap we could have been a bit higher upWe seemed to have good pace in the dry and we werenâ€™t too bad in the wet in Q1. We were maybe a little unlucky with the timing and had we done one more lap we could have been a bit higher up as we were on Friday afternoon.

WHAT ARE YOU HOPING FOR IN THE RACE?I donâ€™t know how the weather will be but usually we go a bit better on Sundays, so letâ€™s see what we can do in the race.

ANY PREFERENCE FOR THE WEATHER?Dry is certainly better for our car and we see it every time, but we cannot choose the weather. If itâ€™s mixed conditions, sometimes you get the timing right and you choose the correct tyre at the right time, but this can be luck also.

WHATâ€™S POSSIBLE TOMORROW?Weâ€™ve been in worse starting positions and here youâ€™re able to overtake if you have the speed, so maybe we can do something. Tomorrow is another day so weâ€™ll just have to wait and see what happens.

Both drivers looked particularly potent in the dry Q2 session â€“ with Kimi setting the fastest time â€“ before rain returned for the top ten decider.

Kimi RĂ¤ikkĂ¶nen, E21-03. Q: P8, 2:03.390. FP3: P10, 1:49.008â€śWhen it was dry in the second qualifying session we were fastest, so if itâ€™s dry tomorrow we should be okay for the race; even though we will not start from a great position. The last qualifying session was wet and our car does not give its best in these types of conditions. Any lap which came right at the end of the session would have helped, but if it stayed dry it would have helped more. Tomorrow is another day so weâ€™ll just have to wait and see what happens.â€ť

Romain Grosjean, E21-05. Q: P7, 2:03.081. FP3: P8, 1:48.967â€śIt wasnâ€™t an easy session today with the changing weather and while itâ€™s good to be in the top ten, it wasnâ€™t exactly what we were hoping for. It was a big challenge to know what condition the track was in, to make the right decisions at the right time and to adjust the speed according to the weather. At the end of qualifying you needed to be on the on track at the right time. Iâ€™ll work with the engineers later to assess why Kimi was a bit quicker in the dry, where we can improve in the wet, and options in terms of strategy. Iâ€™ll give my best in the race tomorrow.â€ť

Alan Permane, Trackside Operations Director:â€śWe showed great pace in the dry; we didnâ€™t in the wet when it mattered.â€ť

How was qualifying for the team?It was a frustrating session for the team. The weather conditions were difficult, but the same for everyone. We displayed great pace in the dry with Kimi fastest in Q2, but unfortunately the rain returned for the final phase. We tried to get a lap in right at the start on dry tyres, but the rain beat the start of the session so we had to change to intermediates. Seventh and eighth on the grid isnâ€™t where we want to be, but at least weâ€™re in the top ten.

What are the strategic permutations tomorrow?As we qualified on intermediate tyres we can start a dry race on either dry compound. A dry race would be better for us, but we canâ€™t influence the weather. If itâ€™s a wet race, there are many different permutations and conditions possible so weâ€™ll be fighting for the very best result we can achieve.

This qualifying was so frustrating. Kimi's timing was all wrong. Kimi is finally fast in qualifying, and then it rains. It seems like even the weather is conspiring against Kimi. It will be difficult to do anything from 8th place on the grid. Even in 2009 he started 6th. Ferrari is right behind and of course Kimi is once again on dirty side. It is all like rince and repeat.

No doubt he would get outgunned by Ferrari on the first lap, and then stuck behind them for the first stint then having to work hard to make up for it, either by prolonging his stints, or doing one less stop.

Zitat von RagingjamaicanNo doubt he would get outgunned by Ferrari on the first lap, and then stuck behind them for the first stint then having to work hard to make up for it, either by prolonging his stints, or doing one less stop.

Same old story.

It does feel like the same thing every week. Although this week is much worse because Lotus actually did seem to have pace in the dry. Oh well...

I'm really frustrated, not only because the DNF at SPA, but specially because of the Championship. I know winning with Lotus was a long shot but how sweet it could have been. Specially for me, that haven't seen Kimi win a Championship yet. I missed half of his career. I actually have seen him win only 3 times, so that means I missed the other 17! And since I can't turn back time, I would have loved to see him win this year.

So now the other 3 contenders take serious advantage and with Lotus' financial problems, I really don't see it happening any more. Maybe when Olga and Spinster come back, they can cheer us all up with their impressivly possitive attitude " title="wink" />